Viewing page 2 of 101

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

                              TREASURY DEPARTMENT
                                   BUREAU OF
                        THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
OFFICE OF THE SURGEON GENERAL    WASHINGTON
          IN REPLYING
ADDRESS THE SURGEON GENERAL     March 8, 1929.
U.S. PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
        DIVISION OF 
     VENEREAL DISEASES

Memorandum for Doctor Waugh:
      The following studies regarding venereal diseases would be of interest:

1. How long has syphilis been known?
2. From where and by whom do the natives believe that these diseases were introduced?  Do they know that these diseases are produced by sex contact? Are they attributed to women or to menstrual blood?
3. Are there any indications that endemic infections, which can be traced to the arrival of certain persons or a certain ship, etc.,  die out after a short time spontaneously, as has been seen in some isolated districts of Scandinavia?
4. Do they seem to have any type of personal prophylaxis, any vegetable juices, oils, passing of urine?
5. Does syphilis produce miscarriages as it does in the white? What are the forms of congenital syphilis of the teeth, skin, bones?
6. Are there any cases of general paralysis? Or cerebral syphilis and tabes?
7. Are there any indications that syphilis develops in the same surroundings where tuberculosis occurs?
8. How long has gonorrhea been known?
9. Does gonorrhea take the same course as in the whites?
10. Do natives believe that continued sex contact will cure the venereal disease?
11. Is sex instruction given to the young folks in any form, for instance as is done in the initiation of certain tribes of Africa?  Are there sex taboos?
12. Remains the ever-present question of incidence of venereal disease.

                   Respectfully,



                   Thomas Parran, Jr.,
                   Assistant Surgeon General,
                   Division of Venereal Diseases.

     BB:MBG

Transcription Notes:
I am not sure what to do when a word led on to the next line and there was a dash so I just did not include the dash.